Challenge Cup/Connacht v Montpellier:Connacht prop Ray Hogan is out for three weeks after suffering a calf injury in the first half of Sunday's clash against Munster. The Ireland A international will miss the back-to-back European Challenge Cup ties against Montpellier but may return for the Magners League games against Ulster and Munster later this month.

But there is better news on another prop, Stephen Knoop, who, having had to go off injured in the second half against Munster, has been passed fit to play.

Connacht's hopes of rescuing their European aspirations depend on securing a bonus point win against Montpellier at the Sportsground on Friday evening (kick-off 6.30).

Last-gasp defeats against Harlequins and Bath mean they cannot afford another defeat.

"We are still very much in this competition but we cannot afford any slip-ups," said coach Michael Bradley. "We need to get results on Friday and next week and then see how we are fixed for the games against Bath and Harlequins after Christmas."

Bradley has named a squad showing three changes from the one that lost 13-0 to Munster as Ted Robinson, Brett Sturgess and David Slemen return ahead of Conor McPhillips, Ray Hogan and Darren Yapp.

Connacht confirmed yesterday their Samoan prop Ray Ofisa has signed an extended contract that will see him remain in Galway until 2009.

CONNACHT SQUAD:A Farley, A Flavin, J Fogarty, D Gannon, J Hearty, C Keane, S Knoop, K Matthews, M McHugh, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C O'Loughlin, C Rigney, D Riordan, T Robinson, D Slemen, R Strudwick, B Sturgess, M Swift, P Warwick, B Wilkinson, G Williams.